Editorial: ICAN leader visits Japan, calls for stronger efforts for nuclear abolition
Jan. 18, 2018
We believe that the visit to Japan by the leader of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) will add momentum to the movement against nuclear weapons.
Beatrice Fihn, the executive director of ICAN, spent time in both Hiroshima and Nagasaki during her first visit to Japan. This non-governmental organization (NGO) was awarded last year’s Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of its efforts to help realize the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in cooperation with A-bomb survivors. Ms. Fihn was invited by the Research Center for Nuclear Weapons Abolition (RECNA) at Nagasaki University.
At the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, Ms. Fihn saw artifacts of the atomic bombing with her own eyes and listened to the account of an A-bomb survivor. Since the basic idea behind the nuclear weapons ban treaty is the inhumane nature of nuclear arms, Ms. Fihn must have long felt a desire to visit the A-bombed cities.
Through her activities with ICAN, she said she had had the chance to listen to A-bomb survivors tell about their experiences. However, being present in the place where an atomic bomb was actually dropped and hearing directly about the devastating consequences that nuclear weapons can wreak must have had an especially powerful impact.
Ms. Fihn told reporters that she had reaffirmed her determination that the world must not suffer another tragedy of this nature. We hope that her firsthand experience of the A-bombed cities will serve as a springboard for strengthening ICAN’s efforts.
At the same time, she apparently felt the great gap that exists between the values of the A-bombed cities and the policy of the Japanese government.
She was no doubt deeply disappointed when the government turned down her request to meet with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said, “This was due to the prime minister’s schedule. Nothing more, nothing less.”
The Japanese government says that it shares the same goal with ICAN but is taking a different approach toward nuclear abolition. But if the same goal is shared, then the government, which represents the A-bombed nation, should seek to create opportunities to engage in dialogue with the group.
The obstacles to a world without nuclear weapons can gradually be overcome through dialogue and the exchange of views with those who hold different ideas.
One good example is the meeting that was held in the Diet building the day before yesterday where discussion took place among Ms. Fihn, representatives of the Japanese government, and lawmakers of various parliamentary groups.
During this discussion, a senior vice foreign minister and members of the Liberal Democratic Party repeated the government’s argument that the treaty would undermine nuclear deterrence and the lives of this nation’s citizens would then not be adequately protected.
But Ms. Fihn suggested that a committee be established in the Diet to take a close look at how the treaty, and specifically which parts of the treaty, are incompatible with Japan’s security policy. Lawmakers of the Komeito Party, part of the ruling coalition, and the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan reportedly expressed their understanding.
What is needed now are more opportunities to engage in dialogue and discussion even if the participants hold different points of view.
Ms. Fihn’s words also gave the public food for thought as we consider how our nuclear abolition campaign should be conducted.
Again and again, she called on people to become more vocal and put stronger pressure on the government. We must make persistent efforts to communicate the A-bomb experiences, arousing public opinion over the idea that human beings and nuclear weapons cannot coexist and changing the attitude of our government leaders.
She also stressed that we should not appeal only to people’s emotions but also hold more fact-based discussions. To sway those who seek to block the realization of a world without nuclear weapons, we must plot strategies that will appeal to both hearts and minds.
Toward this end, Hiroshima and Nagasaki must further strengthen their cooperation with people all across the world.
(Originally published on January 18, 2018)
Beatrice Fihn, the executive director of ICAN, spent time in both Hiroshima and Nagasaki during her first visit to Japan. This non-governmental organization (NGO) was awarded last year’s Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of its efforts to help realize the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in cooperation with A-bomb survivors. Ms. Fihn was invited by the Research Center for Nuclear Weapons Abolition (RECNA) at Nagasaki University.
At the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, Ms. Fihn saw artifacts of the atomic bombing with her own eyes and listened to the account of an A-bomb survivor. Since the basic idea behind the nuclear weapons ban treaty is the inhumane nature of nuclear arms, Ms. Fihn must have long felt a desire to visit the A-bombed cities.
Through her activities with ICAN, she said she had had the chance to listen to A-bomb survivors tell about their experiences. However, being present in the place where an atomic bomb was actually dropped and hearing directly about the devastating consequences that nuclear weapons can wreak must have had an especially powerful impact.
Ms. Fihn told reporters that she had reaffirmed her determination that the world must not suffer another tragedy of this nature. We hope that her firsthand experience of the A-bombed cities will serve as a springboard for strengthening ICAN’s efforts.
At the same time, she apparently felt the great gap that exists between the values of the A-bombed cities and the policy of the Japanese government.
She was no doubt deeply disappointed when the government turned down her request to meet with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said, “This was due to the prime minister’s schedule. Nothing more, nothing less.”
The Japanese government says that it shares the same goal with ICAN but is taking a different approach toward nuclear abolition. But if the same goal is shared, then the government, which represents the A-bombed nation, should seek to create opportunities to engage in dialogue with the group.
The obstacles to a world without nuclear weapons can gradually be overcome through dialogue and the exchange of views with those who hold different ideas.
One good example is the meeting that was held in the Diet building the day before yesterday where discussion took place among Ms. Fihn, representatives of the Japanese government, and lawmakers of various parliamentary groups.
During this discussion, a senior vice foreign minister and members of the Liberal Democratic Party repeated the government’s argument that the treaty would undermine nuclear deterrence and the lives of this nation’s citizens would then not be adequately protected.
But Ms. Fihn suggested that a committee be established in the Diet to take a close look at how the treaty, and specifically which parts of the treaty, are incompatible with Japan’s security policy. Lawmakers of the Komeito Party, part of the ruling coalition, and the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan reportedly expressed their understanding.
What is needed now are more opportunities to engage in dialogue and discussion even if the participants hold different points of view.
Ms. Fihn’s words also gave the public food for thought as we consider how our nuclear abolition campaign should be conducted.
Again and again, she called on people to become more vocal and put stronger pressure on the government. We must make persistent efforts to communicate the A-bomb experiences, arousing public opinion over the idea that human beings and nuclear weapons cannot coexist and changing the attitude of our government leaders.
She also stressed that we should not appeal only to people’s emotions but also hold more fact-based discussions. To sway those who seek to block the realization of a world without nuclear weapons, we must plot strategies that will appeal to both hearts and minds.
Toward this end, Hiroshima and Nagasaki must further strengthen their cooperation with people all across the world.
(Originally published on January 18, 2018)
